McKenny Hall

Building Name

McKenny Hall

Description

Michigan State Normal College was the first teachers' college with a social center. In 1924, President Charles McKenny proposed the idea of a Union to student leaders. That year the Alumni Association set out to raise $500,000. For the first time the university funded a building campaign by soliciting money from alumni. Later on, money was pledged by the Student Council and by faculty. By 1928, the school had pledges for $350,000, unfortunately due to the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the following Great Depression, the school had only collected $130,000 in cash by 1930. Construction began in 1931 with less expensive, plan. Difficulties in paying bonds on the building lead the state to take control in 1937, drawing the cost of the debts from the student programming fees. The building was named for Charles M. McKenny, President of EMU 1912-1933 and the man who first proposed the idea of a student union. During the housing crunch of the 1950s, the third floor and basement of McKenny became student housing, dorm rooms were set up for those who worked in the student union.

Today, McKenny houses a wide variety of resources, such as classrooms, transfer admissions, and the University Advising and Career Development Center, or UACDC. The UACDC provides resume building, mock interviews, job and interview placement assistance, and advising for all of our students in the Exploratory major. McKenny is also home to our on campus Chick-fil-A.

Namesake Biography

Charles McKenny (September 15, 1860 - September 23, 1933) was president of Central State Normal School (now Central Michigan University), Milwaukee State Normal School and Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University). McKenny was born in Dimondale, Michigan. He received his bachelors degree from Michigan State Agricultural College (now Michigan State University) and masters from both Olivet College and the University of Wisconsin. McKenny married Minnie E. Alderman (1869-1942) in 1890. She was a native of Vermontville, Michigan. They had three children, Charles Arthur McKenny, Laurence A. McKenny and Marion Louise McKenny. Laurence joined the Army Air Corps during World War I and was killed in action during World War II. McKenny begin his career as a teacher at Charlotte, Michigan. He then went to teach at Vermontville. In 1895-1896 he was a professor at Olivet College. In 1896 he became principal of Central State Normal School where he remained until 1900. In that year he became principal of Milwaukee State Normal School where he remained until 1912. He then took the presidency at the Michigan State Normal College (MSNC). He started his administration at MSNC by instituting rules against female students having "gentleman callers' visit them in their rooms, only allowing them to visit in parlors. He also instituted rules to cut down on automobiling and canoeing by female students, especially with males. The student body of MSNC at the time was overwhelmingly female. McKenny remained president of MSNC until April of 1933 when he became president emeritus. He died the following September.

Building Namesake

Charles McKenny, President of Michigan State Normal College, 1912-1933

Year Constructed

1930

Date Dedicated

24 October 1931

Building Functions

Office Space

McKenny Union

Architect

F. Eurich, Jr. of Burrough & Eurich, Detroit, MI; East addition by Jickling & Lyman, Birmingham, MI

Builder

Lovering and Longbotham

Original Cost

$300,000

Architectural Style

Art Deco with Collegiate Gothic embellishments

Square Footage

55,056

Rights

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the owner, Eastern Michigan University Archives (lib_archives@emich.edu).